Brooklyn-wide Civic Alliance is taking place on Mon., Jan. 31

In looking for new way to collaborate with other civics, an exploratory meeting to form aBrooklyn-wide Civic Alliance is taking place on Mon., Jan. 31, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm, atBrooklyn College’s Student Center located on East 27th Street and Campus Road. Please put the date on your calendar, and plan to join civic leaders from throughout Brooklyn.The Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance has agreed to organize this event.

The idea is for Brooklyn civic groups to communicate with each other, and to present a large, united front when necessary. It's a concept that has surfaced occasionally; and, now seems ripe to become a reality.

Recently, I joined several civic leaders in a conference call to discuss the idea, agree on a date, place, and to initially focus on land-use issues.

We hope your civic will take part in this exciting initiative.More details will follow as we get closer.

In the meantime, in the next few days, please let us know your intention to attend by responding to me.We need an advance idea about numbers for space arrangements.Each civic group should consider sending 1 or 2 representatives—forward names, organization, emails & phones of attendees.

There are issues that we all have in common that will be resolved only if a voice louder than one person or one group raises them. This could be a first step for a large number of Brooklyn civics to raise their voices together.We look forward to learning that you will be at Brooklyn College on Jan. 31st.

Very best wishes

Phil DePaolo

347-200-2353

Directions by Train:

Take the 2 or 5 train to Brooklyn College/Flatbush Avenue. Exit near the intersection of Nostrand and Flatbush Avenue. Walk west on Hillel Place towards Campus Road. Make a right onto Campus Road. The Student Center is located on Campus Road between Amersfort Place and E 27th Street. Please, use the East entrance near Amersfort Place.

If coming from Manhattan on the Q train, get off at Avenue J. (Note: Due to MTA construction, the Stillwell Ave-bound platform at Avenue H is closed until fall 2010.) From Avenue J and E 16th Street take the B6 or B11 bus toward Flatbush. Get off the bus at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Campus Road, in front of Midwood High School. After exiting the bus, make a left onto Campus Road and walk two blocks. You will walk against the direction of traffic on this one-way street. The Student Center is located on Campus Road between Amersfort Place and East 27th Street. Please, use the East entrance near Amersfort Place.

If coming from Brighton Beach on the Q train, get off at Avenue H and walk East along Avenue H in the direction of Ocean Avenue. Cross Ocean Avenue and walk around campus along Campus Road. You will pass by the football field and the James Hall, which will be on your right. Cross Bedford Avenue and continue walking along Campus Road past E 27th St. Across the street on your left you will see the Student Center building. The Student Center is located on Campus Road between Amersfort Place and E 27th Street. Please, use the East entrance near Amersfort Place.

Directions by Bus:

Take the B41, B44, B6, B11, or Green Bus Line Q35 to the intersection of Nostrand and Flatbush Avenue. Walk west on Hillel Place towards Campus Road. Make a right onto Campus Road. The Student Center is located on Campus Road between Amersfort Place and E 27th Street. Please, use the East entrance near Amersfort Place.Directions by Car:

From Manhattan or the Bronx: Take the Brooklyn Bridge to Boerum Place/Ct Square. Continue to follow Boerum Place. Turn left at Atlantic Avenue. Take a slight right at Flatbush Avenue. Turn right at Hillel Place, the right onto Campus Road. You will come to the fork in the road between Campus Road and Amersfort Place, the building at the fork is the Student Center.

Alternate route from Manhattan or the Bronx: Take the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to Exit 24 – Prospect Expressway. Prospect Expressway becomes Ocean Parkway. Follow Ocean Parkway and turn left onto Foster Avenue. From Foster Avenue you can either turn right at Flatbush Avenue and then follow the directions above OR turn right at Bedford Avenue and look for parking along Bedford Avenue somewhere between Foster Avenue and Avenue J.

From Queens take the Belt Parkway West; from Staten Island take the Verrazano Bridge to the Belt Parkway East. Exit the Belt Parkway at 11N – Flatbush Avenue North. Follow Flatbush Avenue and turn left onto Avenue H. Avenue H will turn into Campus Road.

Parking:

Brooklyn College has no parking lot for students or guests. If you are driving, please, keep in mind finding parking can be difficult. Arrive 15-20 minutes early and expect to park a few blocks away from campus and walk to the Student Center.

Street parking:There are 6-hour metered spots all along Campus Road, but it is nearly impossible to get one of these spots after 8:30am. Your best bet for free street parking is Bedford Avenue anywhere between Foster Avenue and Avenue J. You can also try parking on one of the side streets around campus, but check the signs and be mindful of alternate side parking regulations.

Commercial parking lots:The closest parking lot is located on Nostrand Avenue between Avenue H and Flatbush Junction (intersection of Nostrand Ave, Flatbush Ave, and Hillel Pl). The price for all-day parking is about $8, but you have to check what time they plan to close, as they often close up shop between 5 and 7pm.

The Target shopping center has a parking lot; the price depends on the number of hours in the lot. Enter the lot at Nostrand Ave between Avenue I and Avenue H (you should be heading north from Avenue I in order for the Target parking lot entrance to be on the right of your car).

CORD HISTORY:

With the "Protect Our Homes" petition, CORD was formed in May, 2007. This petition arose as an overwhelmingly negative response to the coming of the over-sized 360 Smith Street Development at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place (Aka Oliver House; aka 131 Second Place). This petition, which had well over three thousand signatures, led to a new zoning text amendment in summer of 2008.

To: Our Elected Officials, Community Leaders, The MTA:(MAY, 2007)

We the undersigned Carroll Gardens homeowners and residents, are appalled by the "as of right" ruling which allows owners and developers to erect buildings in our neighborhood with no regard to the impact they will present to our quality of life and the value of our homes........http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?crlgrdns